Daijiworld Media Network - Pune
Pune, Dec 31: The final day for filing nominations for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections witnessed the emergence of several new faces in the city’s political arena, with Wadgaon Sheri assembly constituency drawing particular attention.
Wadgaon Sheri is currently represented by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) MLA Bapusaheb Pathare. While Pathare himself remains with the Sharad Pawar-led party, his family has taken a different political route, creating a buzz in Pune’s political circles.
Bapusaheb Pathare’s son Surendra Pathare, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a few days ago, has filed his nomination from Ward No. 4. Adding to the surprise, his wife Aishwarya Pathare has also entered the fray on a BJP ticket and is contesting from Ward No. 3. The development has sparked widespread discussion as both son and daughter-in-law of a Sharad Pawar faction MLA are contesting the civic polls on BJP tickets.
With the upcoming municipal elections, a new and notable political equation has emerged in Wadgaon Sheri. By fielding the Pathare couple from east Pune, the BJP is being seen as strengthening ‘Team Devendra’ with fresh and youthful leadership in the region.
Surendra Pathare is a gold medallist from Pune’s prestigious College of Engineering, Pune (COEP). He formally joined the BJP recently in the presence of state BJP president Ravindra Chavan. His candidature from Ward No. 4 is being viewed as a boost to the party, with senior leadership expressing confidence in him and citing his popularity among the youth.
On the other hand, Aishwarya Pathare has announced her candidature from Ward No. 3. Apart from being a political aspirant, she is known as an entrepreneur and social activist. She is a recipient of the Maharashtra Government’s Youth Award in 2014 and the Financial Times Business Award in 2022. Through the ‘Sakhi Prerna Manch’, she has been actively involved in women empowerment initiatives.
East Pune has traditionally witnessed conventional political contests. However, this time, the BJP has added a new dimension by fielding a technocrat in Surendra Pathare and a socially driven leader in Aishwarya Pathare. Whether voters in Wadgaon Sheri will shift their support towards this educated and energetic new leadership remains a key point of interest in the civic polls.